The Account of the Reason for the Name Kushasthali

Verse 1 (skanda.5.41.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। शृणु व्यास यथेयं तु प्रोच्यते हि कुशस्थली। कल्पे तत्पुरुषे पूर्वं वेदविद्भिर्मनीषिभिः॥

sanatkumāra uvāca| śṛṇu vyāsa yatheyaṁ tu procyate hi kuśasthalī| kalpe tatpuruṣe pūrvaṁ vedavidbhirmanīṣibhiḥ||

Sanatkumara said: Listen, Vyasa, to how this city is called Kushasthali, as told formerly, in the Tatpurusha-kalpa, by the wise knowers of the Veda.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.41.2)

वेधसा सृजितं विश्वं दैत्यदानवराक्षसम्। अन्योन्यमदसंमत्तमन्योन्यद्वेषि वै रणे॥

vedhasā sṛjitaṁ viśvaṁ daityadānavarākṣasam| anyonyamadasaṁmattamanyonyadveṣi vai raṇe||

The universe created by Vedhas (Brahma), filled with daityas, danavas and rakshasas, was intoxicated with mutual pride, hostile to one another in battle.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.41.3)

देवाश्च दानवाः संख्ये नित्यं स्पर्धासमन्विताः। मनुष्या मनुजैः सार्धं सिद्धविद्याधरैः सह॥

devāśca dānavāḥ saṁkhye nityaṁ spardhāsamanvitāḥ| manuṣyā manujaiḥ sārdhaṁ siddhavidyādharaiḥ saha||

Gods and danavas were ever engaged in rivalry in war; men fought with men, together with siddhas and vidyadharas.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.41.4)

चारणाः किंनरैः सार्धमेवं ते द्वेषतत्पराः। युद्धं कुर्वंति सततमविस्पष्टार्थया गिरा॥

cāraṇāḥ kiṁnaraiḥ sārdhamevaṁ te dveṣatatparāḥ| yuddhaṁ kurvaṁti satatamavispaṣṭārthayā girā||

Charanas fought together with kinnaras; thus, intent on hostility, they waged war constantly, with words devoid of clear sense.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.41.5)

सर्वे चैव च बलिनो दुर्बलैर्मनुजैः सह। पशवः पशुभिः सार्धं पक्षिणः सह पक्षिभिः॥

sarve caiva ca balino durbalairmanujaiḥ saha| paśavaḥ paśubhiḥ sārdhaṁ pakṣiṇaḥ saha pakṣibhiḥ||

All the strong fought the weak among men; beasts fought with beasts, and birds with birds.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.41.6)

एवमन्योन्यमन्यैश्च निर्मर्यादमिदं जगत्। दृष्ट्वा विश्वस्य कर्तारं विष्णुं विश्वेश्वरं परम्॥

evamanyonyamanyaiśca nirmaryādamidaṁ jagat| dṛṣṭvā viśvasya kartāraṁ viṣṇuṁ viśveśvaraṁ param||

Thus, beholding this world without restraint, warring against itself on every side, [Brahma turned to] Vishnu, the maker of the universe, the supreme Lord of all,

Verse 7 (skanda.5.41.7)

व्रजामि शरणं देवं शरणार्त्तिहरं हरिम्। एवं मनसि संधाय दध्यौ ध्यानेन माधवम्॥

vrajāmi śaraṇaṁ devaṁ śaraṇārttiharaṁ harim| evaṁ manasi saṁdhāya dadhyau dhyānena mādhavam||

thinking, 'I shall go for refuge to that god Hari, remover of the suffering of those who seek refuge.' Resolving thus in his mind, he meditated upon Madhava.

Verse 8 (skanda.5.41.8)

ततो ध्यातो महायोगी विश्वरूपधरो हरिः। लोहदण्डधरः श्रीमानिदमाह पितामहम्॥

tato dhyāto mahāyogī viśvarūpadharo hariḥ| lohadaṇḍadharaḥ śrīmānidamāha pitāmaham||

Then Hari, the great yogi, bearer of the universal form, glorious, holding an iron staff, being thus meditated upon, spoke this to the Grandsire —

Verse 9 (skanda.5.41.9)

ब्रह्मन्ध्यातस्त्वया सम्यग्ध्यानयोगेन पश्य माम्। समायांतं तथा ध्यातं जगतां पातुमुद्यतम्॥

brahmandhyātastvayā samyagdhyānayogena paśya mām| samāyāṁtaṁ tathā dhyātaṁ jagatāṁ pātumudyatam||

'O Brahma, you have rightly meditated upon me through the yoga of meditation — behold me, thus contemplated, come and ready to protect the worlds.'

Verse 10 (skanda.5.41.10)

ततो धाता निशम्यैतत्त्यक्त्वा ध्यानमवेक्ष्य तम्। समुत्थायैकमनसा नमश्चक्रेऽर्चयत्पुनः॥

tato dhātā niśamyaitattyaktvā dhyānamavekṣya tam| samutthāyaikamanasā namaścakre'rcayatpunaḥ||

Hearing this, Dhata (Brahma) set aside his meditation, beheld him, and, rising with a single-pointed mind, bowed and worshipped him once more.

Verse 11 (skanda.5.41.11)

पाद्येनाचमनीयेन मधुपर्केण केशवम्। पूजयित्वा पुनर्वाक्यमुवाचाच्युतमब्जजः॥

pādyenācamanīyena madhuparkeṇa keśavam| pūjayitvā punarvākyamuvācācyutamabjajaḥ||

Having worshipped Keshava with foot-water, sipping-water and the honey-offering, the Lotus-born once more spoke this word to the Unfallen One.

Verse 12 (skanda.5.41.12)

ब्रह्मोवाच। देवदेव जगन्नाथ जगत्सृष्टमिदं त्वया। ऋते त्वया जगद्विष्णो नैवावस्थातु मर्हति॥

brahmovāca| devadeva jagannātha jagatsṛṣṭamidaṁ tvayā| ṛte tvayā jagadviṣṇo naivāvasthātu marhati||

Brahma said: 'O God of gods, Lord of the world, this world was created by you. Without you, O Vishnu, this world cannot possibly continue to exist.'

Verse 13 (skanda.5.41.13)

शास्ता त्वमस्य विश्वस्य विशुद्धस्य च नापरः। त्वत्तोस्तीदं जगत्सर्वं तस्मात्त्वमनुशासय॥

śāstā tvamasya viśvasya viśuddhasya ca nāparaḥ| tvattostīdaṁ jagatsarvaṁ tasmāttvamanuśāsaya||

'You alone are the ruler of this pure universe, and none other. All this world exists because of you; therefore you must govern it.'

Verse 14 (skanda.5.41.14)

देवदानवगंधर्वाः सयक्षोरगराक्षसाः। त्वामृते पुण्डरीकाक्षं व्यापिताशेषविग्रहाः। परस्परं विनिघ्नंति तांश्च त्वं रक्षितुं क्षमः॥

devadānavagaṁdharvāḥ sayakṣoragarākṣasāḥ| tvāmṛte puṇḍarīkākṣaṁ vyāpitāśeṣavigrahāḥ| parasparaṁ vinighnaṁti tāṁśca tvaṁ rakṣituṁ kṣamaḥ||

'The gods, danavas, gandharvas, together with the yakshas, serpents and rakshasas — without you, O Lotus-eyed one, all engaged everywhere in strife, are destroying one another; you alone are capable of protecting them.'

Verse 15 (skanda.5.41.15)

त्वमस्य विश्वस्य चराचरस्य स्थितेः सदा प्राणभृदात्मरूपिणी॥

tvamasya viśvasya carācarasya sthiteḥ sadā prāṇabhṛdātmarūpiṇī||

'You are, for the stability of this whole world of moving and unmoving things, ever the very self that sustains the life within it.'

Verse 16 (skanda.5.41.16)

त्वया धृतं सर्वमिदं जगद्वै यतस्ततोऽसि त्वमुपेन्द्रसंज्ञः। प्रवेशनं व्याप्तमिदं स्वधाम यत्त्वमुच्यसे विष्णुरतो मुनींद्रैः॥

tvayā dhṛtaṁ sarvamidaṁ jagadvai yatastato'si tvamupendrasaṁjñaḥ| praveśanaṁ vyāptamidaṁ svadhāma yattvamucyase viṣṇurato munīṁdraiḥ||

'Because this whole world is upheld by you, you are called by the name Upendra; and because you have entered and pervaded it as your own abode, the great sages therefore call you Vishnu.'

Verse 17 (skanda.5.41.17)

निवासितं विश्वमिदं त्वयाद्य वासश्च धातोरिति वासुदेवः। तवानुगं विश्वमिदं विभुस्त्वमशेषविश्वस्य विभासि राजा॥

nivāsitaṁ viśvamidaṁ tvayādya vāsaśca dhātoriti vāsudevaḥ| tavānugaṁ viśvamidaṁ vibhustvamaśeṣaviśvasya vibhāsi rājā||

'Because this universe has today been given its dwelling by you, and because you are the dwelling of the Creator too, you are Vasudeva; O all-pervading one, this whole universe follows you, and you alone shine as the king of the entire universe.'

Verse 18 (skanda.5.41.18)

सेनानुरूपं जगदेव यस्मादतः स्मृतस्त्वं किल विश्वसेनः। विलेखनादस्य चराचरस्य कृतेश्च धातोस्त्वमतोऽसि कृष्णः॥

senānurūpaṁ jagadeva yasmādataḥ smṛtastvaṁ kila viśvasenaḥ| vilekhanādasya carācarasya kṛteśca dhātostvamato'si kṛṣṇaḥ||

'Because the world itself is fashioned like your army, you are indeed remembered as Vishvasena; and because of your tracing out this moving and unmoving world made by the Creator, you are therefore Krishna.'

Verse 19 (skanda.5.41.19)

जितं त्वया देव जगत्त्रयं यज्जितेश्च धातोस्त्वमतोऽसि जिष्णुः। तस्मात्समस्तग्रहलोकपालं जगद्विभो पालय सर्वकालम्॥

jitaṁ tvayā deva jagattrayaṁ yajjiteśca dhātostvamato'si jiṣṇuḥ| tasmātsamastagrahalokapālaṁ jagadvibho pālaya sarvakālam||

'O god, you have conquered the three worlds, and, established as victorious by the Creator, you are therefore Jishnu. Therefore, O Lord, protect for all time this world together with all its planets and world-guardians.'

Verse 20 (skanda.5.41.20)

त्वमस्य सर्वस्य भवादिराजस्तवास्तु भद्रासनमद्वितीयम्। प्रदक्षिणावर्तनकस्तु शंखः करस्थितः शोभति पूरुषस्य॥

tvamasya sarvasya bhavādirājastavāstu bhadrāsanamadvitīyam| pradakṣiṇāvartanakastu śaṁkhaḥ karasthitaḥ śobhati pūruṣasya||

'You are the primeval king of all this, from the very beginning of creation; let your throne be an unrivalled seat of auspiciousness. O Purusha, the right-spiraling conch shines, held in your hand.'

Verse 21 (skanda.5.41.21)

सुदर्शनं नाम तवास्ति चक्रमतो हि गीतः कविभिस्तु चक्री। ध्वजोऽस्ति ते देव सुपर्णसेवितस्तथासुपर्णश्च तवास्ति वाहनम्॥

sudarśanaṁ nāma tavāsti cakramato hi gītaḥ kavibhistu cakrī| dhvajo'sti te deva suparṇasevitastathāsuparṇaśca tavāsti vāhanam||

'Your discus bears the name Sudarshana, and thus the poets sing of you as Chakri. Your banner, O god, is served by Suparna, and Suparna himself is your mount.'

Verse 22 (skanda.5.41.22)

तुरंगमाः संतु तवारिसंहरे तथा हृषीकेश सुदन्तदन्तिनः। किरीटनिष्कांगदकर्णपूरकेयूरहारोत्तमहेमसूत्रैः॥

turaṁgamāḥ saṁtu tavārisaṁhare tathā hṛṣīkeśa sudantadantinaḥ| kirīṭaniṣkāṁgadakarṇapūrakeyūrahārottamahemasūtraiḥ||

'O Hrishikesha, may you have horses for the destruction of foes, and elephants of fine tusks; adorned with crown, necklace, armlets, ear-ornaments, bracelets and excellent golden cords —

Verse 23 (skanda.5.41.23)

विचित्रवस्त्रोत्तमरक्तमाल्यैर्विभूषितस्त्वं भव भीमसेनः। श्रिया कदाचिच्च न मुच्यते भवान्भवंति ते नित्यमनंतसंपदः॥

vicitravastrottamaraktamālyairvibhūṣitastvaṁ bhava bhīmasenaḥ| śriyā kadācicca na mucyate bhavānbhavaṁti te nityamanaṁtasaṁpadaḥ||

'—adorned with wondrous garments and excellent red garlands, be Bhimasena. Never are you ever parted from splendor; your riches remain ever without end.'

Verse 24 (skanda.5.41.24)

तवानुगा भक्तिरिहास्तु वै सती मुकुन्द भक्ते त्वमतः प्रसीद मे॥

tavānugā bhaktirihāstu vai satī mukunda bhakte tvamataḥ prasīda me||

'O Mukunda, may true devotion to you ever remain mine here in this world; therefore be gracious to me, your devotee.'

Verse 25 (skanda.5.41.25)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। स एवमुक्तस्तु पुरो दिवौकसां विभुः प्रसन्नस्त्विदमब्रवीद्धरः। विरिंच मे दर्शय तस्य मंडलं त्वया विमुक्तं च सदाशिवं विभो॥

sanatkumāra uvāca| sa evamuktastu puro divaukasāṁ vibhuḥ prasannastvidamabravīddharaḥ| viriṁca me darśaya tasya maṁḍalaṁ tvayā vimuktaṁ ca sadāśivaṁ vibho||

Sanatkumara said: Thus addressed, before the gods, the pleased Lord Hari spoke this: 'O Virinchi, show me that region which you, O Lord, have set apart for Sadashiva.'

Verse 26 (skanda.5.41.26)

स्थिरं स्थि यत्र जगत्करोम्यहं ततो विरंचिः कुशमुष्टिमाददे। पवित्रदेशस्य निदर्शनाय जगाम पुण्यं च्यवनाश्रमं तदा॥

sthiraṁ sthi yatra jagatkaromyahaṁ tato viraṁciḥ kuśamuṣṭimādade| pavitradeśasya nidarśanāya jagāma puṇyaṁ cyavanāśramaṁ tadā||

'—where I may firmly establish the world.' Then Virinchi took up a handful of kusha grass and, to point out that sacred region, went to the meritorious hermitage of Chyavana.

Verse 27 (skanda.5.41.27)

ततः स्थलीमुच्चतरामवाप्य पितामहः केशवमाह चादरात्। त्वदुद्भवं चात्र पवित्रमंडलं त्वया विमुक्तं च सदा शिवं विभो॥

tataḥ sthalīmuccatarāmavāpya pitāmahaḥ keśavamāha cādarāt| tvadudbhavaṁ cātra pavitramaṁḍalaṁ tvayā vimuktaṁ ca sadā śivaṁ vibho||

Then, having reached a higher tract of land, the Grandsire respectfully said to Keshava: 'Here, O Lord, is the sacred region born from you, made ever auspicious and set apart by you.'

Verse 28 (skanda.5.41.28)

त्वमेव विष्णुर्विबुधार्चितः सदा स्मृतो मुनींद्रैः स च विष्टरश्रवाः। निषीद विश्वेश कुशस्थलं यदा तदाश्रितो माधवमासरूपवान्॥

tvameva viṣṇurvibudhārcitaḥ sadā smṛto munīṁdraiḥ sa ca viṣṭaraśravāḥ| niṣīda viśveśa kuśasthalaṁ yadā tadāśrito mādhavamāsarūpavān||

'You alone are Vishnu, ever worshipped by the wise, remembered by the great sages, and he too of far-reaching fame. O Lord of the universe, take your seat here in Kushasthala.' When Madhava had thus taken his seat, he assumed a form fit to dwell there.

Verse 29 (skanda.5.41.29)

कुशस्थलीं संस्थित एव देव इत्थं विधात्रा पुरुषोत्तमः स्तुतः। स्थलीं कुशैरास्तरितामुपाविशत्कुशस्थलीं देवमुनीन्द्रसेविताम्॥

kuśasthalīṁ saṁsthita eva deva itthaṁ vidhātrā puruṣottamaḥ stutaḥ| sthalīṁ kuśairāstaritāmupāviśatkuśasthalīṁ devamunīndrasevitām||

Thus, the god Purushottama, established in Kushasthali, was praised by the Creator; he sat down upon that tract, strewn with kusha grass, Kushasthali, served by gods and great sages.

Verse 30 (skanda.5.41.30)

समंततो योजनसंख्ययावृतां ततो विधाता पुरुषोत्तमस्तथा। कुशस्थलीति प्रथितं जगत्त्रये प्रचक्रतुर्नाम च तावुभावपि॥

samaṁtato yojanasaṁkhyayāvṛtāṁ tato vidhātā puruṣottamastathā| kuśasthalīti prathitaṁ jagattraye pracakraturnāma ca tāvubhāvapi||

That land, surrounded on every side by the measure of a full yojana — the Creator and Purushottama, both together, then proclaimed its name, renowned throughout the three worlds, as Kushasthali.

Verse 31 (skanda.5.41.31)

तत्र विश्वपतिः श्रीमान्विश्वेशो विश्वकृद्विभुः। विश्वं शशास विश्वात्मा सर्वविश्वस्य नायकः॥

tatra viśvapatiḥ śrīmānviśveśo viśvakṛdvibhuḥ| viśvaṁ śaśāsa viśvātmā sarvaviśvasya nāyakaḥ||

There the glorious Lord of the universe, the maker and ruler of the universe, all-pervading, the Soul of the universe, the leader of all the universe, governed the world.

Verse 32 (skanda.5.41.32)

एवं कुशस्थली ख्याता हेमशृङ्गेति या पुरा। स्तीर्णा कुशैर्यतो धात्रा कुशस्थली ततः स्मृता॥

evaṁ kuśasthalī khyātā hemaśṛṅgeti yā purā| stīrṇā kuśairyato dhātrā kuśasthalī tataḥ smṛtā||

Thus that city, which was formerly known as Hemashringa, became renowned as Kushasthali; and because it was strewn with kusha grass by the Creator, it is therefore remembered as Kushasthali.